Have you ever noticed that small business owners behave a bit like sheep? They flock together, going to the same networks with the same people. They have a look to see how other business owners are promoting themselves, and then do something very similar.
It’s not so surprising. There’s a certain amount of comfort to be taken from knowing that they’re not being left behind.
The crazy – sheep-like - part is that the flocking is done without first finding out if what they’re about to copy actually works!
When I first became a business coach I spent ages looking at the websites of other business coaches and planning my own site to be very similar. Now, I’m more discerning! I only look at the sites of very successful coaches and business owners. They’re the people I want to model.
With more and more small businesses starting up, the need to stand out from the crowd is becoming increasingly critical to success.
Instead of trying to be part of the flock, business owners need to work out how they can be different to catch the client’s attention. It can be an uncomfortable process but the rewards will make it all worthwhile.
This week I've been through the whole gamut of emotions! From pride (at writing some great content for my newsletter and making a good start on a new workshop) to despair (at finding a competitor offering what I was about to offer). From satisfaction (at submitting some good articles) to out and out jealousy at some of the great looking websites and blogs I've seen lately.
The trouble is that I'm being distracted by the syndrome called 'the grass is always greener'! I'm forgetting just how much I have achieved, and discounting my offerings (which are actually rather good). The result is that I'm so busy stewing over how to improve that I'm forgetting a very basic fact of life.
The grass will always seem greener in the next field. It's just that when you get there, the next field looks as though it may have grass that looks even greener....
Fortunately, tomorrow I'm meeting with someone who I hope is going to become my next coach (yes, coaches need coaches too!). I've been searching for a new coach for a while now, someone who is going to help me move my business on to the next level. While I'm pretty good at staying focused - this week has shown me that I can also be easily distracted and slowed down by wanting to reach that greener grass!
Have you ever noticed that small business owners behave a bit like sheep? They flock together, going to the same networks with the same people. They have a look to see how other business owners are promoting themselves, and then do something very similar. 
